Amid the sudden escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the Royal Air Force Akrotiri base in Cyprus, which is located in the UK, was attacked by an Iranian-made “Shahed” drone in the early hours of Monday. In response to the regional turmoil, France and Greece announced on Tuesday (March 3rd) that they would deploy defense equipment by land, sea, and air to Cyprus, with the UK also mobilizing advanced warships for reinforcement.
The spokesperson for the Cyprus government, Konstantinos Letymbiotis, confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to send anti-missile systems, anti-drone systems, and a naval frigate to Cyprus to maintain the island’s airspace security.
At the same time, Greece has dispatched 4 F-16 fighter jets to Paphos in Cyprus. Two naval frigates from the Greek navy, including the newly commissioned French-made FDI frigate “HS Kimon,” have also been sent. One of the warships is equipped with the Greek-developed “Centauros” electronic countermeasure system, which has been successful in the Red Sea and is specifically designed to counter low-altitude suicidal drones like the “Shahed.”
UK Defense Minister John Healey stated that although the base suffered minor damage and no casualties, the security threat cannot be ignored. According to The Times, orders have been issued for the HMS Duncan destroyer to be dispatched from Portsmouth to Cyprus to strengthen the local air defense shield.
The HMS Duncan is one of the most advanced Type 45 air defense destroyers in the world, equipped with the Sea Viper missile system. It recently completed tests for countering “drone swarms” and is considered the best shield to protect the base from further aerial attacks in the future.
The attack occurred after the United States and Israel launched “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran. While the target of the attack was a British sovereign base, the explosion on Monday led to the emergency evacuation of hundreds of residents in the surrounding civilian areas of Cyprus. Military analysts in Cyprus suggest that the drone was likely launched by Hezbollah in Lebanon and flew at low altitudes to evade conventional radar at the base.
Although UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized that the UK was not directly involved in the attack on Iran, regional armed groups seem to have designated British military facilities on Cyprus as retaliation targets. With the military intervention of France, Greece, and the UK, Cyprus has become the vanguard of the EU in the eastern Mediterranean.
(This article referenced reports from Reuters)